Maui Invitational = $8.3 million economic impact

I can assure you that IDS reporter Matt Dollinger only contributed about half a million to this total, with his lavish tastes in fine foods and insistence on playing only the most glamorous golf courses and habit of ending each day with an hour-long massage from the hula girls.

Here’s the release.

MAUI, Hawaii, Feb. 3, 2009 â€“ The 2008 EA SPORTSTM Maui InvitationalÂ® Hosted by Chaminade University surpassed the previous yearâ€™s numbers for impact on the local economy, again ranking among Hawaiiâ€™s top revenue-generating events of 2008. According to the latest data released by the Maui Visitors Bureau, the Tournament welcomed nearly 5,000 out-of-state participants spending an average of six days on Maui and making an economic impact of more than $8.3 million. 2008 marked the 25th year for the EA SPORTS Maui Invitational and included several special events to commemorate the milestone leading up to and during the Tournament.

â€œEvery year, the EA SPORTS Maui Invitational gives us a tremendous lift in our tourism business while showcasing a great competitive event with some of the top teams and players in college basketball,â€ said Terryl Vencl, executive director of the Maui Visitors Bureau. “In a struggling economy this Tournament continues to provide visitors a meaningful reason to travel and experience a breathtaking island s etting in which to enjoy their vacation,â€ she added. Â â€œFor our community it also generates excitement as our residents look forward to enjoying world class basketball year after year.”

The EA SPORTS Maui Invitationalâ€™s economic impact resulted from expenditures by out-of-state visitors â€“ boosters, players, officials, media, team and game personnel, sponsors, production crews and devoted basketball fans â€“ who traveled to Maui for the season-opening tournament. Since its 1984 debut, college basketball’s premier in-season tournament has brought nearly $140 million to Mauiâ€™s economy.

In addition to its economic impact, the Tournament annually generates thousands of dollars to local charities, such as the Aloha House,Baldwin High School, Boy Scouts of Maui,Â Job Corps, Lahainaluna High School, Make A Wish, Maui Family YMCA, Maui Food Bank, Napili Canoe Club and Starwood Foundation of Hawaii, among others.

The 2008 eight-team field featured three top 10 teams, according to The Associated Press Top 25 preseason poll, with North Carolina at No. 1, followed by Texas (No. 7) and Notre Dame (No. 9), along with Alabama, Oregon, Saint Josephâ€™s, Indiana and host Chaminade.Â North Carolina was presented the Wayne Duke Championship trophy after meeting Notre Dame in a final that featured ACC Player of the Year, UNCâ€™s Tyler Hansbrough, against the BIG EAST Player of the Year, Luke Harangody. Â 2008 marked the third Maui title for North Carolina (1999, 2004 and 2008) and the third for Roy Williams as head coach (1996 with Kansas; 2004 and 2008 with North Carolina)